deal if we could teach them to be self-supporting--"

"It would mean the loss of a lot of possible patronage to this Valley,"
said the Senator absently. "Are you still determined not to accept
Government aid?"

"Absolutely sir: my work is to Christianize these Indians, not just
leave them educated savages."

"Hm," from the Senator. "What do you suppose they think we are?"

"I don't see very well how I can train them to be honest men if, out of
every dollar assigned to aid the Indian school, sixty cents goes to
Government contracts and party heelers?"

"Hm!" Moyese was stroking his bare chin with a crookt forefinger. "I
suppose if I were the story-book villain, I'd say 'yes, you must teach
'em to be honest'; but I don't. Fact is, Mr. Missionary, if you go
into the ethics of things, you're stumped the first bat: who gave us
their land, in the first place? This whole business isn't a golden
rule job: it's an iron proposition; and if I were an under-dog beaten
in the game by the law that rules all life, I'd take half a bone rather
than no meat. I make a point of never quarreling with the conditions
that existed when I came into the world. I accept 'em and make the
best of 'em; and I advise _you_ to do the same."

"You can't take the contracts of a bargain-counter to regulate the
things of the spirit, Mr. Senator."

"Oh, as for things of the spirit," deprecated the Senator, smiling the